It's amazing more bikers aren't killed

[anonymous-user]

Ok, on a much more pressing and important subject, How come Miss Johansson sometimes looks amazing, but then sometimes suddenly looks like a mongoid ??? Just can't work it out?? ;-)

[Chris71]

Jasandjules said:

The other day, an ambulance came screaming from the other way, so whilst my traffic lights were on green, I stopped so that the ambulance could swerve around the junction nice and easy. He started to, but Mr Cyclist behind me decided that as I had stopped clearly he should just go round me - straight into the path of the ambulance. I mean, it must have been hard to spot with it's camoflage paint and no lights on nor noises...........

Trust me, this isn't just cyclists. I live near an ambulance station and I've seen drivers refuse to give up their 'right' of way when an ambulance (on blues and twos) is waiting to turn right in front of them. I've also had ambulance chasers boot it past me when I'm driving off having pulled over to let an emergency vehicle past. So it is tttish (certainly if there's any question of him obstructing the ambulance in the process), but it's not confined to people on bikes.

You see so much dubious behaviour in city centres from drivers, cyclists and even pedestrians when too many people in too little space causes them to become impatient to irrational degrees. I will concede that a minority of people who take to two wheels probably do so specifically to 'beat the jams' at all costs (and as such ride like tools) but if you honestly take a look at the way people drive in central London I don't think you can claim the attitude is any better. Being on two wheels just allow the minority who want to bend the rules to do so more effectively and more regularly, which makes them more conspicuous.

[MarJay]

Amazing more car drivers aren't killed.

I saw a car driver driving whilst talking on his MOBILE PHONE yesterday. And I saw a driver cut three people up to move across from one lane to another at a roundabout, then realise he or she really needed to be in the lane they were originally in.

I'm amazed more car drivers aren't killed.

[The Wookie]

Regardless of who is worse, bikers or car drivers, in the year I worked in London and commuted by car I saw bikers out of it on the deck with alarming regularity

[Cock Womble 7]

MarJay said:

I'm amazed more car drivers aren't killed.

I'm working on it.

[Hudson]

Max_Torque said:

Ok, on a much more pressing and important subject, How come Miss Johansson sometimes looks amazing, but then sometimes suddenly looks like a mongoid ??? Just can't work it out?? ;-)

Same as Milla Jojovich imo. Looks great in films, terrible in pictures. i can only assume she looks better while moving.

OP thread will not go the way you want.

[croyde]

It's the way her arm presses into the soft flesh of her left breast

[Mr Gear]

The Wookie said:

Regardless of who is worse, bikers or car drivers, in the year I worked in London and commuted by car I saw bikers out of it on the deck with alarming regularity

Yep, it's a sad fact that despite the bikers being the ones who suffer, it's the cars drivers whinging as usual.

Last night I had to emergency stop on a mini-roundabout as a woman in a Mercedes 4x4 flew across it without giving so much as a glance at me. She probably didn't even know that it was only my reaction and observation that saved her from a manslaughter charge.

[Mellow Matt]

If it helps anyone at all, I hold my hands up to almost reversing over an OAP whilst paddling my motorbike backwards off a pavement today.

I did apologise though, and he then complimented the bike.

I feel he and I did our parts to mend biker/non-biker relationships

[Pothole]

Jasandjules said:

Pothole said:

@OP; no it's not. Just because you, as a non-biker, don't think you'd be able to judge things that finely doesn't mean we can't. Just play your normal game and we'll take care of ourselves.

The thing is, I've nearly nailed a couple recently - not just the ambulance dodger in the OP. I was signalling left, there is a left hand lane at the lights, and they are on green, so I start to go through - Mr Cyclist undertakes me - had I not saw a glimpse of something on my near side I'd have just ploughed through him.

On Monday, I had two cyclists on my nearside, which isn't a major problem BUT then a motorcyclist also went past on the inside, and they had a minor collision. Cue lots of swearing from one cyclist at motorcyclist who simply gave a hand signal (no prizes for guessing what!) and roared off..


EAT - Was meant to say that I think my standard of driving/observation is higher than many drivers on the roads who don't tend to see my big black passat estate.............. So that's also why I am amazed there are not more bikers hurt..

Edited by Jasandjules on Thursday 28th July 14:36

so as I said you were doing your thing and spotted them...not your job to Police the world...

[Bonefish Blues]

I've seen a couple doing daft things in the last 2 days, which is unusual, TBH.

I've seen many more car drivers doing daft things over the same period.

I do echo the comment about this new trend for bikers to use full beam at all times - it's really distracting, especially when a bike is sat on your rear quarter.

[Mr Gear]

Bonefish Blues said:

I do echo the comment about this new trend for bikers to use full beam at all times - it's really distracting, especially when a bike is sat on your rear quarter.

I can't turn the headlights off on my motorcycle. I can't even switch to side-lights. They are permanently on as specified from the factory. I think this is a construction regs thing these days.

[Bonefish Blues]

Mr Gear said:

Bonefish Blues said:

I do echo the comment about this new trend for bikers to use full beam at all times - it's really distracting, especially when a bike is sat on your rear quarter.

I can't turn the headlights off on my motorcycle. I can't even switch to side-lights. They are permanently on as specified from the factory. I think this is a construction regs thing these days.

No problem with headlights - absolutely the right thing for bikers, but it's the full beam lark that I think is discracting and inconsiderate.

[The Wookie]

Bonefish Blues said:

Mr Gear said:

Bonefish Blues said:

I do echo the comment about this new trend for bikers to use full beam at all times - it's really distracting, especially when a bike is sat on your rear quarter.

I can't turn the headlights off on my motorcycle. I can't even switch to side-lights. They are permanently on as specified from the factory. I think this is a construction regs thing these days.

No problem with headlights - absolutely the right thing for bikers, but it's the full beam lark that I think is discracting and inconsiderate.

That and those BMW 'long way round' bikes that ride around with their fogs on, usefully right at eye level. If there's a bike that's going to be spotted anyway it's a massive BMW boxer jobbie

[Mr Gear]

Bonefish Blues said:

No problem with headlights - absolutely the right thing for bikers, but it's the full beam lark that I think is discracting and inconsiderate.

I would imagine that my headlight is slightly higher than most people's car mirrors, so even on dipped beam it could be shining all up in your face.

[Fats25]

Bonefish Blues said:

No problem with headlights - absolutely the right thing for bikers, but it's the full beam lark that I think is discracting and inconsiderate.

I don't know anyone that does this..... only place I have ever seen it is in France (where they also put hazards on when filtering).

As above all bikes after a certain period (approx 2000 I would guess) have running day lights. However you have to remember that a motorbike is setup, and MOT tested, for the light height, against a white board.

I rode my Mrs bike in yesterday to get it serviced. She weighs 8 stone - I am more than double that. I am sure you can imagine the difference this makes to how lights appear? Could that be what you are observing? I just do not know of anyone that would ever ride with full beam on - other than down country lanes, where cars would be doing the same thing, and you would dip for approaching vehicles.

[ceriw]

Jasandjules said:

Pothole said:

@OP; no it's not. Just because you, as a non-biker, don't think you'd be able to judge things that finely doesn't mean we can't. Just play your normal game and we'll take care of ourselves.

The thing is, I've nearly nailed a couple recently - not just the ambulance dodger in the OP. I was signalling left, there is a left hand lane at the lights, and they are on green, so I start to go through - Mr Cyclist undertakes me - had I not saw a glimpse of something on my near side I'd have just ploughed through him.

On Monday, I had two cyclists on my nearside, which isn't a major problem BUT then a motorcyclist also went past on the inside, and they had a minor collision. Cue lots of swearing from one cyclist at motorcyclist who simply gave a hand signal (no prizes for guessing what!) and roared off..


EAT - Was meant to say that I think my standard of driving/observation is higher than many drivers on the roads who don't tend to see my big black passat estate.............. So that's also why I am amazed there are not more bikers hurt..

Edited by Jasandjules on Thursday 28th July 14:36

Well at least JandJ is aware of his/her standard of observation. Which if he/she isn't a biker then it is commendable indeed.
Most bikers whilst driving their car have a higher regard for bikers because they are aware that the biker has a better appreciation of the road conditions than the car driver. Better vantage point, more nimble etc Therefore as a car driver they appreciate that the biker might do things that they, whilst in their big black boxes, cannot consider doing.
It's only experience that will educate the car driver as to how he/she should adapt to this situation -naturally many prefer to be alarmist/bloody minded when they find themselves surrounded by the oppertunist biker... but maturity will usually prevail.

[balls-out]

[John D.]

Mr Gear said:

vit4 said:

I find bikers (motorcyclists I'm on about ) to be one extreme or the other; either incredibly considerate, or total tts. One very nearly ended up with "Escort" stamped on his forehead the other day when on a dual carriageway, heavy traffic doing about 20 mph, checked my mirrors to change lanes, saw the biker in the middle about 15 cars back (headlight on, very odd yellow colour), signaled, started to move and lucky enough glanced in the mirror again as I moved, only to see the biker suddenly a HELL of a lot closer. Screamed past me, not a great judge of speed but couldn't have been doing less than 50mph to close that much gap in the space of time he did. Technically I suppose it would've been my fault, but the speed he was doing was ridiculous given the conditions.


Cyclists on the other hand do aggravate me; unusually high proportion of 'militant cyclists' around here. It does surprise me with both forms of bikers when they act stupidly/dangerously; by far the most vulnerable people on the road so I sure as hell would be being as careful as I could.

You fail. If you see a vehicle approaching in your mirror you still make a manoeuvre? What malfunction in your head makes you think that is correct?

As for cyclists: if you can't negotiate past a cyclist carefully, you should examine your driving style.

At least he does admit to being a poor judge of speed.

[Bonefish Blues]

Fats25 said:

Bonefish Blues said:

No problem with headlights - absolutely the right thing for bikers, but it's the full beam lark that I think is discracting and inconsiderate.

I don't know anyone that does this..... only place I have ever seen it is in France (where they also put hazards on when filtering).

As above all bikes after a certain period (approx 2000 I would guess) have running day lights. However you have to remember that a motorbike is setup, and MOT tested, for the light height, against a white board.

I rode my Mrs bike in yesterday to get it serviced. She weighs 8 stone - I am more than double that. I am sure you can imagine the difference this makes to how lights appear? Could that be what you are observing? I just do not know of anyone that would ever ride with full beam on - other than down country lanes, where cars would be doing the same thing, and you would dip for approaching vehicles.

Take your word for it, but the difference between different bikes' lights is so extreme that this was all I could attribute it to?

As an M40 resident it really is that marked.